What Does Zechariah 6:7 Mean in the King James?

And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.

Zechariah 6:7 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

One Hebrew root repeats through their wish, the command, and the result: what English makes several movements is one unfolding act of going.

THE MEANING

The horses seek to go, receive the command to cross the earth, and then carry it out. The repeated movement makes the earth a field they traverse, while the command directs their roaming.

THE ROOT

לְהִתְהַלֵּךְ

lehithallekh

GROWS FROM

הלך

go, walk, move along

The verse repeats this root in “to go,” “get you hence,” “walk to and fro,” and “walked.” English presents these as separate actions, while Hebrew carries the same movement from intention through command to completion.

ALSO GROWS

lalechet: to go

לָלֶכֶת

This earlier form names the movement the horses seek before they receive the command.

lekhu: go; get you hence

לְכוּ

The command uses the same root, turning their desired movement into directed travel.

hithallekh: walk about; move around

הִתְהַלֵּךְ

This form describes the traversal itself, linking the command to the horses’ completed roaming.

הָאֲמֻצִּים

ha’amutsim

GROWS FROM

אמצ

be strong, firm, or resolute

The Hebrew word translated “bay” comes from a root carrying the sense of strength. The horses’ description therefore holds a quality of strength beneath the color-word English gives them.

ALSO GROWS

amats: be strong

אֲמַץ

This verbal form shows the strength present as a quality in the horses’ Hebrew description.

immets: strengthen; make firm

אִמֵּץ

The related form shows the same root can describe strength being established, not only possessed.

THE PATTERN

A calling becomes action when a sender’s word is answered with movement.

And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

Zechariah 1:10 · KJVThe sent ones move across the earth, as the horses do when they receive the command in Zechariah 6:7.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:8 · KJVThe question of sending becomes movement when Isaiah answers, “send me.”

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Matthew 28:19 · KJVThe command to go sets the called ones in motion toward the nations.

THE THREAD

And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the LORD hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.

Zechariah 1:10 · KJV

The same phrase, “walk to and fro through the earth,” appears in both verses, carrying the Hebrew root ⁨הלך⁩. Zechariah 1:10 identifies the roaming horses as sent by the LORD; 6:7 shows their movement following the command.

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